# NTSB ERA25LA371: North American T-6G, N888WV, Rossville, TN, September 28, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 28, 2025, 17:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Rossville, TN - Coordinates: 35.173016, -89.561237 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1730&lon=-89.5612&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 201749 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA371 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201749/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201749 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA371 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the airplane’s path during takeoff toward the setting sun. Contributing was the undetected worn and fractured tailwheel locking pin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [North American T-6G, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=6400432), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American T-6G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=6400432), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [North American T-6G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=6400432), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: landing gear steering system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [North American T-6G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250/cases.md?model=6400432), [All aircraft, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [North American T-6G, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6400432), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [North American T-6G, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6400432), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [North American T-6G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=6400432), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the vintage, tailwheel-equipped airplane was departing from a turf runway. The pilot described that as he initiated the takeoff toward the west, and into the setting sun, he looked inside the airplane to verify the engine instruments. It took his eyes several seconds to adjust to the shaded cockpit and when he next looked outside he was surprised to see that the airplane had drifted to the left and he was no longer able to see the runway edge markers. The airplane’s main landing gear then encountered a “dip” that ran alongside the runway and he was unable to apply corrective control inputs to bring the airplane back onto the runway. The airplane’s left wing subsequently struck a metal pole and trees, after which the airplane nosed over and caught fire. Bystanders extricated the pilot from the cockpit and the airplane’s wings, fuselage, and empennage were substantially damaged. A witness video of the takeoff showed that when the pilot began the takeoff roll, the airplane was not aligned with the runway and was oriented slightly left. As the engine power increased, the airplane veered further left. The airplane’s tailwheel was oscillating from side to side, and the rudder was visibly moving. Following the accident, the pilot could not recall whether he had locked the tailwheel prior to initiating the takeoff. Postaccident examination of the tailwheel assembly revealed that the tailwheel locking mechanism was locked, though it could not be determined whether this as-observed condition was consistent with the configuration during takeoff, had been engaged later during the accident sequence, or as the result of manipulation during the examination. Additionally, the tailwheel locking pin was broken into two pieces, with the upper half frozen into position in its guide while the lower half was worn. This condition would likely have resulted in the tailwheel lock operating unreliably, and with the tailwheel not properly locked, would have hampered any efforts the pilot would have made to realign the airplane with the runway after initiating the misaligned takeoff roll. Had the pilot confirmed the operation of the tailwheel locking mechanism prior to initiating the takeoff, it is possible that he could have recognized the deficiency and avoided the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N888WV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N888WV), registered now, S/N 49-3401A, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN T-6G - Registry model: [North American T-6G](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-t-6g) (registry code 6400432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 49-3401A - Year built: 1951 - Airframe hours: 14668 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R 1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 2024, 35 hours before - Destination: NQA, Millington, TN - Airport: 7TN4, Pegasus Fld, runway 26, 3,000 × 80 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 19, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 9,188 total, 495 in this make and model, 6,395 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 3011.00 inHg - Observed at: MEM, 25 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250928014649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250928014649A), Sep 28, 2025: North American T-6G, Oakland, TN, Substantial damage. ATC reported: Oakland, TN (7TN4):[privacy data omitted], T6, veered left off of runway 26 while on takeoff roll causing the aircraft to collide with trees and… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201749. 29.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19510005&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19510303&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20Of%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance manual (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19587612&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=maintenance%20manual-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 4, PDF, 9 pages, 8 photos, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19510256&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20photos%20pdf_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness video (item 5, MP4, 25.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19522516&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=redacted%20video-Rel.mp4 - FAA inspector's statement (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19588026&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20inspector%20observation-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.